In 2002, 87% of Australians felt they had family and community support from people outside their household. This article examines selected activities associated with social interactions such as attendance at culture and leisure venues, sport and physical recreation activities and voluntary work. Possible influences on these activities are also examined.

In 2002, more than 90% of adults with a disability indicated they could request assistance in times of crisis from someone outside their own household. In most instances, this was a family member residing elsewhere. This article discusses the support received by people with a disability, including financial assistance and informal and formal care.

In 2001, over 350,000 families with children aged under 15 years had no employed resident parent. Almost two-thirds (64%) of these families were one-parent families. This article focuses on the recent trends, characteristics, social wellbeing and financial stress of families with no employed resident parent.

This article highlights some of the diverse social and economic circumstances of unemployed people, lone parents and recently arrived migrants. Results of multivariate analysis of data from the 2002 General Social Survey are used to consider whether the attributes of being unemployed, a lone parent or a recently arrived migrant are linked to certain social and economic outcomes, after a range of demographic and other characteristics are removed from consideration.

In 2002, 45% of children aged 0-4 years and 13% of children aged 5-11 years spent some time in formal child care. This article focuses on changes in formal child care use since the early 1990s, including the types of child care services used and parents' labour force participation. Also examined is the need for additional care, with respect to the type of care required and the reasons for needing additional care.

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